Pasadena is hosting a free open house Thursday, Oct. 15, on the city's first Environmental Justice Element. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

The evening includes a complimentary dinner, a Kid Zone with free activities for children ages 2 to 18, and interpretation services. The city is co-hosting with Day One, a community engagement firm.

The Environmental Justice Element, or EJ Element, is a new chapter of Pasadena's General Plan. California's Planning for Healthy Communities Act, Senate Bill 1000, was signed by Gov. Brown in 2016 and took effect in 2018.

The law requires cities with state-identified disadvantaged communities to adopt environmental justice policies in their general plans. The California Attorney General's office describes the law's goal as reducing disproportionate pollution burdens on disadvantaged communities.

Seven census tracts concentrated in Northwest Pasadena have been preliminarily identified as environmental justice communities, according to the city's planning page. The area is bounded by the 210 Freeway to the south, Woodbury Road to the north, Los Robles Avenue and portions of Lake Avenue to the east, and Arroyo Boulevard to the west.

The boundary could shift. City data shows residents in the area face relatively high transportation-related air pollution, lead exposure and economic burdens, and officials have said community input could reshape the preliminary lines.

Staff are using two state screening tools, CalEnviroScreen and the Healthy Places Index, to evaluate tracts. The state treats census tracts scoring 75 or higher on CalEnviroScreen as environmental justice communities, Pasadena Now reported.

The element will address six topics: pollution exposure; safe, sanitary and affordable housing; healthy and affordable food; public facilities and programs; active living and physical activity; and inclusive and meaningful engagement. A city staff report presented to the Northwest Commission in September stated that environmental impacts disproportionately burdening low-income communities and communities of color need to be recognized to achieve equitable health outcomes.

The city's presentation also traced present-day disparities in Northwest Pasadena to a history of racially restrictive housing covenants, redlining and displacement from freeway construction.

The Pasadena City Council authorized a contract with consulting firm Dudek and Day One on Nov. 17, 2025. Planning staff first briefed the Planning Commission in June 2024 and launched the public program May 23, 2026, at the 30th annual Family Fun Day. An English and Spanish survey had drawn about 355 responses as of September.

Draft policies are expected from winter 2026 into spring 2027. Commission and City Council hearings on a draft element are anticipated in fall and winter 2027.

Residents who cannot attend the Oct. 15 open house can join a virtual community meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at bit.ly/EJ_Virtual. For accessibility accommodations, contact (626) 744-7311 or [email protected] with at least 72 hours' notice.